Chelsea have been urged to forgo Xabi Alonso and as a substitute hire Premier League-proven manager Marco Silva this summer.
The Blues are currently forming their shortlist to fill their everlasting managerial emptiness following the sacking of Liam Rosenior last month.
Callum McFarlane will remain in post until the top of the season, however the Blues are reportedly keen to have a alternative named before the beginning of this summer’s World Cup.
Recent reports suggest that Chelsea have made contact with former Liverpool midfielder Alonso following his departure from Real Madrid earlier this season.
The Spaniard, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to a historic league and cup double in 2024, is extremely regarded by Chelsea and has also been linked with Liverpool as a possible alternative to Arne Slot.
Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola can be said to feature high up in Chelsea’s shortlist, having guided the Cherries to the brink of European football this season.
Nonetheless, former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor has thrown his support behind Fulham boss Silva, who has proven a gradual pair of hands since his appointment at Craven Cottage back in 2021.
The Portuguese coach helped Fulham break their record Premier League points tally last season, and Agbonlahor is confident that the 48-year-old has the ‘perfect’ temperament to whip Chelsea’s young side into shape.
‘Marco Silva is the proper character that these big-time Charlies at Chelsea need,’ he told talkSPORT.
‘The best way they’ve removed Rosenior, they’ll do it to a soft manager that is available in. They need a hard-hitting manager.
‘Marco Silva doesn’t take any nonsense. We’ve seen him on the sidelines, much like Antonio Conte’s type of style.
‘He’ll go into that football club Chelsea in pre-season, sort them out. [He will work out] who’s on side, who’s going to work hard, who’s going to follow runners, who’s going to run?’
Agbonlahor continued: ‘What number of games this season have Chelsea been outrun? That’s incredible. That’s essentially the most embarrassing stat for a manager, in case your team isn’t running.
‘Once I was ending football, players were being played because they may run greater than players which can be probably technically higher.
‘So to see that from Chelsea, they need a tough manager like Marco Silva getting into there.’
Silva is out of contract at the top of the season, but recently pushed back on any speculation linking hi wit ha move to Stamford Bridge.
‘I don’t pay any attention,’ he said last week. ‘We’ve decisive games ahead, and all the main target goes to be on them.’
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